On Repeat: April 2022

Here are my top ten tracks for April 2022:

Matrakk – Sexfriend Is Better – First up for April is French producer Matrakk’s track, Sexfriend is Better; which was released in March 2021 on the compilation album, VA003 by French label Maison Close, alongside other amazing electronic talent such as CLTX, Charlie Sparks and Dissolver. The track is melodic techno but with pounding kicks, which also features a sample of N.E.R.D’s song, Everyone Nose (All The Girls Staning In the Line For The Bathroom).

Tender Games – Movin’ – Now for something of more of an electronic soul and funk kind of vibe, from German-Jamaican producer Tender Games, project of singer songwriter Ulrich Harrison. Movin’ is a mix of funky groove and disco feeling, and as the title would suggest, it certainly makes you shake a leg. If you are a fan of Thundercat, you’ll definitely catch on to this one. The track was released in April 2019 on Berlin label Midnight Snacks, and the single features remixes from two incredible artists, Marlon Hoffstadt and Black Loops.

Cousn – Papped – More of an upbeat track this one, from Bristol based duo Cousn (who funnily enough, are cousins). Papped is a party and rave anthem made for a club. There are also some massive clear influences from the Chemical Brothers here within this track. The duo’s music appears to be a symbiosis of disco, house and acid, experimenting with the blending of multiple genres at once.

Ed Hodge – Hot Point – Hot Point is a track of minimal house by up and coming British producer, Ed Hodge. This was released in January this year, on the four-track EP, Virtual Resistance on Manchester based label Dansu Discs. Virtual Resistance is a split EP with fellow UK producer Harrison BDP, as both producers have two tracks each on the release. Hot Point is a high energy, thumping track with a deep bassline that echoes the vibe of production gods like Jamie Jones.

Deniro – MPC Tracks A1 – One of the finest of his craft, Netherlands DJ and Producer Deniro released his most recent EP, MPC Tracks this month on label Self Reflektion. MPC Tracks A1 is the first on the four tracker and is overflowing with adventurous groove, another hit from a minimal techno king.

Stranger – Untitlebret – Another techno track for this month is Rotterdam based DJ Stranger’s track Untitlebret from the August 2021 single “Untitlebret / Rok Da Place“, also released on Self Reflektion, which is actually Stranger’s label. Mitchel Polderman (AKA Stranger) combines modern techno with the old school classic sounds, featuring a sample of Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam, whilst giving it a much darker feel.

DJ Heartstring – Met Her At Bäreneck – One of my favourite artists of 2022 so far, who are skyrocketing their way to the top are Berlin based duo, DJ Heartstring, who I have featured in a previous edition of On Repeat. Their track Met Her At Bäreneck is the opening track from their EP of the same name which was released this month on Lobster Theremin. Their music catalogue is uplifting and euphoric trance which appears to be another sub genre that is becoming increasingly popular within dance music and the current rave climate, and this track shows exactly that.

The Eagles – Take It Easy – The first of only two rock releases of this month is by one of my favourite older, classic rock bands, The Eagles with their song Take It Easy from their self titled 1972 album. They were a band who were always playing in my house growing up so I have been surrounded by their music from a very young age. Take It Easy is one of my favourite songs of all time and is one of many signature songs from the band, with its catchy verses and nice harmonies. Borderlining country music, it captures themes of the American Dream and is the perfect song for a road trip with Friends.

Limp Bizkit – Break Stuff – The second and final rock release for this month is late 90’s, early 2000’s nu-metal band Limp Bizkit’s angsty anthem, Break Stuff. As the title would suggest, it is a song about the human boiling point and uncontrollable anger. It is the fourth and final single from their fourth studio album, Significant Other, released in 1999. This is one of their best songs they have in their catalogue, and generally one of the better songs to listen to for those grumpy days, it is an unapologetic metal anthem .

Darius, Wayne Snow – Helios (Myd Remix) – To finish off April’s edition, this is one of my favourite dance tracks I have found lately and cannot stop listening to it. It is so uplifting and euphoric, and features French piano house with vocal samples from the original track. Easily set to be a Summer banger of a remix from French producer Quentin Lepoutre aka Myd.

Grooves On The Vinyl #001 – Mall Grab – Pool Party Music

Australian magician on the decks Jordon Alexander AKA Mall Grab established his place in house music and solidified his rise to fame with his 2017 EP Pool Party Music. Released on Hot Haus Recs, the EP is the essential collective of tracks for a summer playlist.

Starting with the opening track of the same name, Pool Party Music, as it’s title suggests, it’s the perfect soundtrack for poolside listening. In the summer, under the belting sun, soaking up the heat with cocktails and friends. This a really fun track made for sunny days. Track two, B.F.O.D.A.A.S. has more of the lower tempo, chilled out vibe that is a little bit calmer but still packs a swinging sound like a New York house track. The closing track, Catching Feelings is a lovely one to wrap up the EP with. This track circulated over the internet in 2016 before its official release on the Pool Party Music EP, one reason being it boasts an Outkast sample and some super smooth production.

My favourite track on the EP is definitely it’s opener of the same name, Pool Party Music; although it has solid competition with Catching Feelings for me, mainly because Catching Feelings always brings such a nostalgic feeling to me when I listen to it, it reminds me of the summer 2018 when I first started getting into house music properly and broadening my musical discoveries into lo-fi and other sub genres, and also of the many afters I went to and put this on.

Mall Grab himself has always been one of my favourite artists and every time I have been to one of his gigs or seen him at a festival, he has always put on an outstanding set. I really respect him as both a DJ and producer and he always seems like such a fun, humble and down to earth guy. I love listening to his earlier releases like this and comparing them to where he is at now and looking at how far he has come since his early 20s.

Sadly the EP is no longer on spotify, but you can stream a couple of the featured tracks below, as well as other classics including I’ve Always Liked Grime and Menace II Society:

thank you so much for reading the first proper edition of Grooves On The Vinyl, I hope you liked it and I am really excited for further editions and continuing the series alongside On Repeat.

On Repeat: March 2022

March soon came around after what was a very fast beginning to 2022. I’m slowly but surely getting back on track with my writing and post commitments after a very busy start to the year, with preparing for my driving test (which I passed, woo!), preparing for Tribal Warehouse’s opening 2022 show with Skream, and being appointed as event manager for Nottingham based event brand Intuition Events. This time only a little late; here are my favourite songs I had on repeat in March:

Malevolence – On Broken Glass – Sheffield based heavy metal band Malevolence released their first of two new singles in late February, On Broken Glass. They also announced their new album, Malicious Intent, due for release on the 20th May this year. I heard them play On Broken Glass live for the first time in September, where they played a hometown gig in Sheffield alongside Leeds based hardcore band Rough Justice and Essex based Splitknuckle, where they actually filmed the video for On Broken Glass that day. The single is sublime, as is the second of the singles, Life Sentence. I am predicting an absolutely massive year for them after the album release. They are heavy metal royalty and deserve so much more recognition from outside of the UK hardcore scene as well as the dedication from current UK fans. Expect eye watering riffs and gut rendering vocals.

Overmono – Gunk – Brothers Tessela and Truss released their first single of 2022, Gunk on the 8th of March. The track is taken from the London based duo’s upcoming project, Cash Romantic, due for release on the 8th of April. Gunk is an addictive listen, which fuses elements of house and techno with UK garage. The single cover artwork features a gorgeous Doberman, much like the artwork for Diamond Cut/Bby, and the Everything U Need EP.

DJ Steaw – Tribute To Doug Willis – A minimal house pick now from Parisian DJ and producer DJ Steaw. Tribute To Doug Willis is from Steaw’s West Side EP released in March 2019 on ever popular label, Rutilance Recordings. The track is a funky, deep house cut with a French touch featuring a sample of British DJ and house producer David Russel Lee aka Doug Willis’ I Got It.

Folly Group – Sand Fight – One of my favourite indie discoveries of recent is Sand Fight by London based collective Folly Group. Within the song, Sand Fight delivers an audio-ode to the quartet’s youth of being carefree with limitless energy. From their 2021 EP, Awake and Hungry, this song is an essential for your indie playlist. Their sound is slightly reminiscent of the likes of Idles, and they are definitely a band to listen out for.

Joe Unknown – Ride – Another indie pick for this month is Joe Unknown’s Ride. The song is his only release on Spotify, adding a mysterious element to his overall demeanour as an artist. Spoken word vocals combined with gritty, urban lyrics describing day to day British Culture. Not quite rap but now quite punk, Joe Unknown has a distinct sound similar to the likes of Slaves, Sleaford Mods or Slowthai.

Sunny Day Real Estate – The Blankets Were The Stairs – This song is a discovery I made from TikTok, where creators ask day to day people roaming the streets what songs they are listening to. I already knew Sunny Day Real Estate from their songs In Circles and Song About An Angel, which are on the same album as The Blankets Were the Stairs, called Diary which was released back in 1994. Having never listened to the album in full, I hadn’t heard this song before I had seen the TikTok, which lead me to listen to the full album, and it is a perfect example of 90s grunge punk. Featuring whiney vocals like most soft punk bands, and a lovely bass pattern in the chorus.

DJ Mell G – I Fuck As I Live – Spotify discover weekly came through with the electro in March with German based producer DJ Mell G’s I Fuck As I Live. The single was released in 2020 and is a fast paced banger which combines various styles in one track, showing just how badass on production she is. I can expect the likes of DJ Stingray to be rinsing this track in future sets!

The Clash – The Magnificent Seven – I don’t often feature classic, iconic bands within my posts, as it often goes without saying. The Clash need no introduction, but they are one of the best bands ever to come out of the UK and the original punk scene. The Magnificent Seven is one I’ve had on repeat throughout March as it was sampled in Pete Tong’s mix for The Ministry Of Sound’s The Annual II, which I have been listening to on my way to work in the car. The song was inspired by the likes of US early rap musicians The sugar hill Gang and The Grandmaster Flash and is one of the earliest recorded attempts of a band attempting to write and perform rap, especially with its lyrics of social and political content. The Magnificent Seven is one of The Clash’s most underrated songs in my opinion, and irrefutable proof of their eclecticism. Listen out for the killer bassline alongside Joe Strummer’s songwriting *chef’s kiss*.

Dissolver – Amputee Thai Chi – One of my favourite artists at the moment who I cannot stop listening to is Dissolver, and if you asked me for my top five DJs, he would be up there. Amputee Thai Chi is a pumping electro track featuring an intriguing build up to claps and a vocal sample leading up to a perfect drop, back to low thudding kicks all put together with those elements. The track comes from the compilation album COURTOISYD03, featuring other artists such as Frazi.er and Charlie Sparks. At only 23 years old, the Netherlands producer his soaring up to an incredibly high status within dance music, if he isn’t there already.

SNTS – Hopeless (Paula Temple’s Descent Into Madness Remix) – Finally, my irl soundtrack pick for this month is Paula Temple’s remix of SNTS’ Hopeless. I went to Re-Textured at Printworks where I finally got to see Paula, and this track was one I listened to the most before attending to increase the excitement. Both SNTS and Paula Temple are well known in techno for their unrelenting sounds both in DJ sets and production, with high bpm and industrial components to provide an audio experience into hell. This track does exactly that, taking you deep into the realms of underground industrial techno.

Spotify playlist with all tracks from my On Repeat series has been updated as always, which you can find below. Have a listen for yourself! :

On Repeat: February 2022

February also happened to be my birthday month, so my main character syndrome reached its peak for a whole 28 days, and now I am the ripe age of 24. As promised, here are my top ten favourite tracks I loved through February, that helped me complete the final month of another year around the sun:

Angel Du$t – Turn Off The Guitar – After binge listening to Turnstile throughout January, I then made a discovery of Angel Dus$t, who are an American punk supergroup, made up of members of both Turnstile and Trapped Under Ice, who are also one of my favourite bands. Turn Off The Guitar is from their 2021 album, YAK: A Collection Of Truck Songs and is certainly one of the more happy and upbeat sounding songs in punk music, and overall a super catchy song to sing along to with your friends.

Kiddy.Wav, YTP – Grab Dat Ass All Night – Broadening my electro collection in February was French producer Kiddy.Wav’s track Grab Dat Ass All Night featuring up and coming Scottish producer YTP from the 2021 EP, Level Up My Skills on Planeteria Sound System. It is a bouncing and energetic track yet moody and dark in its sound all at the same time, made for the hazy, dark nights after you’ve left the rave.

Boris Brejcha – Puzzle (Feat. Malena Maria) – Melodic is a genre I will always like yet is one I seem to forget about as my taste gets heavier. Boris Brejcha is one of my absolutely favourite producers of the melodic variety and is a DJ I would still love to see live. Puzzle features intense melodies and is a masterpiece from start to finish that will give you Goosebumps. This 2020 single is a beautiful track that rightfully belongs in your music collection.

Have Heart – Bostons – One of the hardcore release I had on repeat more than most in February was Have Heart’s song, Bostons from their 2008 album, Songs To Scream At The Sun. I never used to listen to Have Heart when they were together, but only began listening to them in the past couple of years when I discovered Fiddlehead, who are a band made up of Have Heart’s Patrick Flynn and Shawn Costa, and Basement’s Alex Henery, who formed in 2014, six years after Have Heart disbanded in 2019. Songs To Scream At The Sun is now one of my favourite albums and Bostons is the second song on there, featuring a building bridge which exploded with passionate and emotive vocals from Flynn alongside the poetic lyrics.

Skream – Space Ghetto – The first event I attended in February was our first Tribal Warehouse show of 2022, with Coydon producer and DJ Oliver Jones AKA Skream, whom I had the absolute honour of meeting for the second time. Space Ghetto is from the EP, Steel City Dance Discs Volume 23 (also one of my favorite labels) released in September 2022, featuring a voice note from Scottish DJ and producer Big Miz, and is a breakbeat belter for sure, with achy bass and tight-breaks. This is definitely one of his best releases of the last year!

DJ Heartstring – Will You Remeber Me When I’m Gone? – One artist I am completely and utterly OBSESSED with at the moment is DJ Heartstring. I discovered the Berlin based couple in early February and have not stopped listening to them since. Every single track they have released so far is a banger, and Will You Remember Me When I’m Gone? from their EP, 4 The People is my favourite track on there, mainly for the sample of Madonna’s Vogue as well as their consistent style of trance-techno, which seems to be a hit in the current dance music climate.

The Rival Mob – Mind Over Matter – Another hardcore pick for February was The Rival Mobb’s Mind Over Matter, from their 2010 EP, Hardcore for Hardcore. Featuring sick building riffs and piercing vocals which bring the song to an instrumental climax intended for a violent pit. Sadly, the Massachusetts band split up in 2016, yet it is apparent that their music still influences many bands in the modern hardcore scene today.

Ray Keith – Gun Shot A Buss – Now, a bit different from my usual picks but still staying with my regular favourite genre which is dance music as a whole, is this drum and bass track, Gun Shot A Buss by British artist Ray Keith. This is another one of those darker sounding, more eerie and dramatic bodies of work as a single. Gun Shot A Buss features rolling snares and vocal samples, before a thundering drop.

Sam Fender – Get You Down – Time for an indie pick now, by another artist I have grown to love. Get You Down is the fourth song on Geordie singer songwriter Sam Fender’s latest album, Seventeen Going Under. Overall this is an amazing song and one of my favourites from the album. The lyrics have a nostalgic feel to them as it seems Fender is reviewing his past in Get You Down. Altogether, a will-be timeless track in years to come, featuring Sam’s amazing voice with drums and sax.

Julian Muller – Juicy – To end February’s edition of On Repeat, I have picked my favourite techno track at the moment. Juicy comes from French born, Belgium based Julian Muller’s EP, Flower Coaster, which I was gifted the vinyl version of for my birthday. This is a rave essential of a track, packed full of energy and exciting build ups, ready for hands in the air, hip swinging action.

On Repeat: January 2022

Welcome to the first edition of On Repeat for 2022. Here are my top ten tracks I loved the most in the first month of the the year.

Pretty Girl – Sun Phase (Human Movement Remix) – Australian producer Human Movement’s remix of also Australian producer and singer Pretty Girl’s Sun Phase feels like a collaboration of two worlds, by sounding like both a fresh and electric club cut, whilst at the same time a melodic head release and a breath of fresh air. Sun Phase features airy melodies and romantic vocal samples to make a frenetically charged dance track, released in July 2021 on Gallery Recordings.

Baltra – Dreaming Of A Disco – Philadelphia raised, but New York based Baltra has delivered an effortlessly lovely disco track on the EP of the same name, released in August of last year on the ever impressive label, Shall Not Fade. The four track EP is Baltra’s first full length EP since 2019, which opens with disco loops and 80s chords held down by a bassline so infectious that you just can’t not listen to it.

Trudge – No Future – This has been on my heavier dance music release favourites playlist for quite some time now, and after having lost it deep within the collection, I recently reconnected with this track thanks to my Spotify daily mixes. This is a single released in October of 2020, and is an industrial techno track with just a little bit of bounce. This dancefloor shaker of a track deserves to be blasted within warehouse raves across the world, in the darkness only illuminated the strobe lights.

Lauer – Trainmann (Tensnake Franceman Mix) – German DJ and producer Tensnake took to the studio in March of 2012 and remixed fellow German producer Lauer’s track Trainmann. This house track features an impressive electric synth loop, combined with a funky bassline making it an overall bright and beaming track that almost sounds like it could be a disco tune. It would be perfect for those sunny afternoons in a festival field, when the day turns to night.

Echoes Of October, Tham – Jane Fonda – It wouldn’t be On Repeat if I didn’t feature at least one track of hard techno. German and Polish DJs and producers Echoes of October and Tham collaborated to create Jane Fonda, which comes from a VA compilation album released in 2020 called TAR Various Artists, featuring tracks from techno DJs such as Rebekah, DYEN and more. This track in particular has an intense build up and vocal samples from the New York actress and fitness guru herself, just with a lot more distortion in her voice.

999999999 – P05535510N – Italian techno duo 999999999 (pronounced nine by nine, I think), were part of the first VA released on French label Possession in 2020 with their track, suitably called P05535510N. This EP also features Hector Oaks & DJ KAOS11, Nene H and Pawlowski, but this one is my favourite out of the four tracks on there, this one being the third. The Mario & Luigi of techno music go in HARD on P05535510N, but then again, when do they ever fail to satisfy on a release? This was a fantastic track to be selected for the first VA, and set the tone of what else to expect from the label brilliantly, aggressive techno at its finest.

Porij – 150 – On the more softer side of tracks for this month, I have selected Manchester based Porij’s 150, released on 2020 on the quartet’s debut EP, Breakfast. I am a sucker for the slower, soft indie instrumental tracks and this one in particular features stunning use of guitar that is addictively soothing, and a female vocal sample, with the only lyrics throughout the track being, “tell me what you want me for, me for”.

Joy Orbison, Léa Sen – Better – Joy Orbison’s track Better featuring Léa Sen is the second track I have featured in my On Repeat series from his album Still Slipping Vol. 1; but how can I help it when it’s just so damn good? The album is my favourite from 2021 and this track and Bernard? are my two favourites from the glorious body of work. Last time I featured Bernard? and it was a close call between that or this, so it got a feature on my January favourites playlist. Anyway, Better is one of the more lyrical pieces on the album, which boasts gorgeous vocals from Léa, adding the overall silky smooth feeling of the track, it is electro with elegance and class.

Chromatics – Cherry – One track I have been absolutely obsessed with throughout January (and the rest of 2022 so far if I am completely honest) is Cherry by The Chromatics. This is another one of my discoveries from my Spotify daily mixes; after I heard it for the first time and initially thought it was Schoolboy Q’s Man Of The Year, until upon looking at my phone I realised I was wrong, but then also went on to discover that this is in fact the original track he sampled the opening beat from on his hit song from the 2014 classic Oxymoron album. I have a lot of respect for Chromatics after their track Tick of The Clock was featured on the soundtrack for my favourite film, Drive; so it was lovely to delve an inch further into their catalogue. This is an amazing song with hauntingly beautiful shoegaze-like instrumentals throughout, and one for warm night drives, and one that evokes a feeling of fearlessness.

Turnstile – Real Thing – One event I attended in January was Turnstile’s Nottingham date on their UK tour of their 2021 hit album, Glow On. Like I always do, I kept myself excited by listening to their releases in the lead up to the gig. Real thing is the opening song on their 2018 Time & Space album, which sets the tone for the rest of the album with frontman Brendan Yates’ edgy and sharp vocals as well as sludgy guitar riffs. If you’re not yet into hardcore, you will be after listening to Turnstile and Time & Space in full especially.

On Repeat: December

We have finally come to the last On repeat for 2021 and this also marks a whole year of the series. To end this years’ series, as always I have picked tracks I have loved throughout December. I am unsure yet if I will continue the series in 2022 as I want to pursue other projects, but for now, please enjoy my favourite tracks of this month:

Alavux, JJMC – Ghetto Trash – lavux, JJMC – In November I attended XXL Warehouse Project which I mentioned in last month’s post, and one track I picked up from that night was Ghetto Trash by Alavux and JJMC when DJ Stingray played an amazing set of techno and electro. Ghetto Trash is a track of bubbling Serbian electro from the eastern European producer Goran Alavuk with vocals from JJMC . The track is notoriously rinsed by Stingray in his sets however that’s not necessarily a bad thing because it is a solid bopper to cause havoc on a dancefloor.

Nina Kraviz – Skyscrapers – Russian DJ and producer Nina Kraviz has also more recently focused on releasing her own original material featuring her own vocals within the last six months. July 2021 saw the release of Skyscrapers, whic was the first of Nina’s tracks to feature her own vocals and lyrics. Shortly after it’s release followed several remixes from other artists including Vladimir Dubyshkin, Solomun and Hi-Lo (AKA Oliver Heldens). Skyscrapers is a dreamy yet melancholic song full of mystery; overall it is an amazing song thanks to the beats mixed with Nina’s lovely vocals and lyrics. It is really nice to see this experimental side of Nina, I’m really looking forward to her album coming later in 2022.

CLTX- Feeling Pretty – I came accross this track a couple of weeks ago via Instagram stories as it was suggested song to put on my own story. I had never heard of it before or CLTX, but loved it as soon as I listened to it for the first time. CLTX is a French-born, Berlin-based producer who’s music is influenced by the Parisian warehouse rave scene, which you immediately hear within Feeling Pretty, which consists of powerful kicks and a heavy sub bass. Feeling Pretty was released in January 2021 on compilation album TORCH on Laburnum Records featuring tracks from other artists such as Charlie Sparks, Andromeda and Neagles. 2022 is set to potentially be a great year for CLTX, as his work has already been recognised by French event brand and label, Possession, with a United Ravers Possession Podcast already under his belt, and so many more great things to come.

C&G Soundsystem, Honey Dijon – Dual EP B1 – Honey Dijon Re-Rub – C&G Soundsystem is a collaborative project from Italian techno artists Marco Carola and Gaetano Parisio, who released an EP back in 1998, Dual E.P. In January last year, Parisio invited Honey Dijon and several other artists such as Radio Slave, Mark Broom and Shlomi Aber to remix the previous tracks. Honey Dijon’s remix of B1 from the original Dual EP is my favourite of the remixes, as she turns down the tempo and ups the groove, giving her own personal twist on this minimal techno track.

Inja – Smile & Wave – The drum and bass release of this month is one from one of my favourite drum and bass MC’s, Inja. Smile & Wave, which is a track from his album of the same name released in July 2021 on Hospital Records and produced by Whiney, is a feel good, happy and catchy track guaranteed to cause a skank no matter where you’re listening to it. Smile & Wave is the exact embodiment of Inja himself: playful, positive and uplifting. As always, expect an infectious wordplay and heavy bassline.

Incident Prism – Boidshot – Released in September 2020 on French label Molekül, Boidshot is one of four tracks on the Let’s Dance EP from French producer Incident Prism, including a remix of his track Gang Bounce from Hector Oaks as DJ KAOS11. Boidshot is a heavy track of hard trance with cyber elements that send you straight into a futuristic rave zone.

Floorplan – Made Up In My Mind – I celebrated New Year’s Eve this year in Manchester, and went to see the glorious father and daughter duo that is Floorplan at Joshua Brooks. As always, I was listening to their songs before going to see them to put me in the mood so I decided to choose Made Up In My Mind for December’s post as this is my favourite track by them. Robert and Lyric are one of the finest artists as Floorplan to ever come out of Detroit, both within their DJ sets and production, as can be heard within this track, with its soulful gospel vocal samples and electrifying organ. I would certainly be attending Sunday service if they played tunes like this one.

Cassie Raptor & Rebeka Warrior – O.B.I.C – Another French techno artist I have extremely high hopes for in 2022 is Parisian DJ and producer Cassie Raptor. Whilst I was in Paris, at the event I attended at Nexus, EVERYONE was talking about Cassie and how she is going to become the next big thing; she has made and continues to make a name for herself within the queer underground scene in France. The track of her’s I have included for December’s edition of On Repeat is O.B.I.C featuring Rebeka Warrior on Raptor’s EP 1984 released in March 2021 on Warrior records, which is Rebeka’s label. The track also features quotes from George Orwell’s 1984 (which the EP was inspired by), and echoes political issues of today and tomorrow.

Jacidorex – Run – Another great techno release for this month is Run by French DJ and producer Jacidorex. At the event I attended at Nexus, Jacidorex also played and he was who I was most excited to see there. Run is a hammering, pounding techno tune, and when the beat drops exactly two minutes in, there’s a rush of adrenaline and goose bumps; a great track for a hot and sweaty rave. Run was released in June 2021 on Rave Alert records. I was supposed to see Jacidorex B2B JKS at Teletech’s event at Hidden in Manchester on New Years’ Day, but sadly he had to pull out due to logistical problems with flights. Until next time!

AnD – Emergency Procedures – I have spoken about duo AnD in a previous edition of On Repeat for their track The Unknown Force, but this time I want to talk about Emergency Procedures from their 2020 EP Beast Mode. To end a whole year of On Repeat and this month’s post we have another solid track of heavy thundering techno; a straight up banger that is rave ready. There is also a remix of Emergency Procedures on the Beast Mode EP from Gabber Eleganza. AnD were also supposed to play at Hidden on New Year’s Day however there was a power cut which led to both them and Viper Diva being unable to play, however I will wait patiently until the next time that I can! I shall be seeing Viper Diva on the 22nd of January at Hidden again, for another night of unadulterated techno from the Teletech boys.

And there we have it! A whole twelve months’ worth of On Repeat! Thank you so much to everyone and anyone who actually reads my posts, follows me on Instagram, follows my playlists or supports me and my creativity in any way. I appreciate it so much and I cannot wait for everyone to see what I have in store for 2022.

The Ruthless Raver: On Repeat Spotify playlist has been updated below:

On Repeat: October

October has been a weird one for tracks I have loved this month. I’ve been exploring new genres and getting into garage a lot more, but have also reconnected with my love for post punk rock, whilst maintaining the same love for 140+ bpm techno and electro and deep house. There has also been some amazing new releases from some of my favourite artists. You could say October’s edition of On Repeat is a real cocktail of tracks.

St. Germain – Thank You Mum – French musician Ludovic Navarre AKA St. Germain’s track Thank You Mum from is 1995 album Boulevard is one deep, underground 90’s house track I have been loving through October. Inspired by French jazz house music, this track has one deep bassline flowing through, paired with a blues vocal sample (of Lightnin’ Hopkins’ Mama Blues) and a layer of harmonica that is the secret ingredient to Thank You Mum; which I now think is one of the best deep house tracks ever made, my mind was truly blown when I first heard this. I shall be checking out the rest of the album and listening to more of St. Germain for sure.

Shawn Cartier – Parking Lot (VIGILE Remix) – For this month’s techno / electro selection, I have included Scottish producer, Franck’s remix of Newcastle DJ Shawn Cartier’s track Parking Lot, which he remixed when he was formerly known as Vigile, on his 2020 EP, also called Parking Lot. This is a high energy track, made for offending your neighbours and making dancefloors shake with good vibrations.

Lustral – Everytime (Nalin & Kane Mix) – Next up on the list of October is German production duo Nalin & Kane’s Remix of British electronic producers (also a duo) Lustral’s Everytime. This is a Balearic trance interpretation of the song from 1997, in the peak years of trailblazer trance music. From the build up to the breakdown, this remix of the 90’s trance classic is an absolute masterpiece. It is sensual and mystical, enough to quite literally put one in a trance.

Overmono – So U Kno – Time for some breakbeat and ambient bassquakes now, from British rave and techno duo Overmono. The Russell brothers, Tom and Ed have also previously worked solo on their own projects as Tessela (Ed) and Truss (Tom), before forming as Overmono. So U Kno has a really nostalgic garage feel and sound to it, as though it were released years ago and not actually in June this year, on the BMW Track / So U Kno single. Overmono have become one of my favourite electronic acts ever just within the last couple of months, and with this track alone it is clear to see why.

Dax J – East London Back Alleys (Jungle Techno Mix) – This is the last of this month’s electronic picks; Dax J’s latest album, Utopian Surrealism came out a couple of weeks ago on Monnom Black (which also happens to be one of my favourite record labels) and to be honest I have had the entire album on repeat, but this is probably my favourite track on there. Combining jungle and techno makes an exceptional track, and experimentalism at its finest.

Superheaven – Knew – And now it’s time to get emo. I always reconnect with my favourite post punk bands in Autumn and Winter seasons for some reason, probably something to do with the blues and the adjusting to the changes. Superheaven have been one of my favourite bands of that sub genre of punk for many years now, ever since I first discovered their 2013 debut album, In A Jar, which is also one of my favourite albums of all time and every single song on there is so good, Jar is one album I love with absolutely no skips. I will be honest and say I was struggling to choose one song from this album for this post so I picked a random one. Knew in particular has a very Nirvana-esque feel to it, thanks to its riff that sounds a lot like Bleed.

Modern Color – Empty Rooms – Modern Color are a Californian band formed in 2014. Empty Rooms is the only song I know by them so far, as this appeared on one of my Spotify daily mixes one day, but is one that keeps reappearing on there, and I have been loving what I have been hearing, it’s definitely a song that sticks in your head. Empty Rooms is from the band’s 2020 album, From the Leaves of Your Garden, which I definitely be checking out the rest of. For fans of: Title Fight, Citizen and Basement.

Basement – Crickets Throw Their Voice – UK band Basement, formed in Suffolk in 2009 are one of my favourite bands ever and their debut album released in 2011, I wish I Could Stay Here is another album I absolutely love. Basement were one of the bands I loved when I was in college and very much in my emo / greb phase (still am, not going to lie), so this album always makes me feel very nostalgic and takes me back to the days spent listening to this IWICSH on repeat. Crickets Throw Their Voice is the fourth song on the album and my favourite on there, with Andrew Fisher’s gruff vocals and the poignant lyrics. I am seeing Basement for the third time at Outbreak Festival in Manchester next year, where they will be playing an 11 year anniversary set for the album, which I am so stoked for.

Counterparts – The Disconnect – Considerably one of the greatest metalcore songs of all time by one of the biggest hardcore bands in the scene, The Disconnect remains an anthem to be shouted with passion. This is the opening track on their 2011 album, The Current Will Carry Us. From the lyrics “I fucking hate the world, I fucking hate myself, and I swore I’d never fucking feel like this” it becomes immediately clear this is not an optimistic song, but it is definitely a line that a fair few of us can empathise with, which makes this song so resonating.

Lana Del Rey – Dealer – And lastly, we have my queen and love of my life Miss Lana Del Rey. Her new album, Blue Banisters was released on the 22nd of October (the same day as Dax J’s funnily enough, and I have had both albums on repeat) and Dealer is the best song on there. It features one half of The Last Shadow Puppets, Miles Kane and apparently was co-written with Alex Turner as well. It is an earth-shattering song, and one of the most chilling and cinematic she has wrote so far. She also experiments more with her vocals on this track by screaming, “I don’t wanna live”, adding to the overall powerful feel of Dealer.

Thank you for reading about the tracks I loved in October, all ten songs have been added to the On Repeat Spotify playlist. I hope you can find as much love in all of these songs as I have, and hope you can enjoy experimenting in tastes and discovering other genres with my picks for this month.

On Repeat: September

As the Summer drew to a close and Autumn approached, it was time to give my playlists for September a shuffle, and they quite literally changed with the seasons. I went to the last festival of the Summer in September and closed off the season really nicely with some of my best friends and favourite DJs. September’s edition of On Repeat features some darker dance music of deep house, breaks, melodic techno as well as a couple of rap songs I’ve liked.

No_4mat – Good Year – First up this month is Good Year by US producer cNo_4mat AKA Mikhael Villegas. The track is taken from his debut EP, Quarter, which was released in February 2018, and dons some gritty synths that are a clear nod to the 90’s rave era. Good Year is a dark track but with a sick beat throughout, one for those darker nights into the city.

Midub – Flight – Next up is a track with a more chilled out vibe of lo-fi house that again boasts some gorgeous synths to send you on a journey. Flight contains a sample that sounds like it may be from an airport control room, hence the title name (I’m guessing), quite literally taking you away somewhere else. The track sounds ethereal and hypnotic and it is a beautiful track overall, this one got added to the Afters playlist straight away!

Treasure Series – Make My Day – Now some readers and those who know me my relationship with tech house is fraying away slightly, but there are few tracks I hear from the genre that maintain the love that little bit more, and Make My Day is one of them. Treasure Series are known for their house tracks featuring samples of old house and hip hop classics, such as Get It Poppin’, which features a sample of Shake That by Eminem and Nate Dogg. Make My Day samples Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam, with more modern dance twist, a faster tempo and a solid beat to get the swing in your hips going.

Audio Jack, Kevin Knapp – These Days (Jimmy Edgar Implication) – Next is a remix from Detroit house DJ Jimmy Edgar of Spanish duo Audiojack’s track These Days. It’s a nice little deep house bop and a great warm up track, either for an opening set or for a pre’s with your mates before an event to set the mood. Released in 2012, it felt like I had struck gold discovering this track as it really took me back to the 2010-2015 deep house era, which was one of the first sub genres of dance music I really fell in love with.

Ewan McVicar – The Realm – One artist I am really intrigued by at the moment is Scottish DJ and producer Ewan McVicar, who has made a name for himself now on Patrick Topping’s label Trick with his Street Rave EP from last year, as well as his more recent belter of a single, Tell Me Something Good. The Realm is one of his earlier tracks from 2018, and even from this track alone, it’s clear to see why he is ascending so rapidly within the dance music scene and community, having also now recently secured residency as Glasgow’s Sub Club. I can’t wait to see what is next in store for him.

George Fitzgerald – I Can Tell (By the Way You Move) – This is not the first time I have featured deep house master George Fitzgerald in my On Repeat series, and it probably will not be the last. I Can Tell (By The Way You Move) is absolutely one of my favourite dance tracks of all time, with its sexy, funky and smooth vibe overall. This is a lesser known Fitzgerald track, that deserves to be heard by all!

Sven Vath – Feiern – Upon attending Newsam Park Festival this year, I of course watched techno legend Sven Vath close the festival, and he delivered a spell binding set as always. Feiern was one of the last tracks he played that night, and I was taken aback by its beauty within seconds. Feiern is the German word for celebrate, and rightly so as I would definitely describe this as a celebratory track, and at the same time, hopeful (in my idea, in the sense that we will be able to rave again indefnitely). Newsam Park was the first proper festival back for me since lockdown and it really did feel like one big celebration between myself and fellow ravers and festival goers around me. Despite the torrential rain, the vibes were on such a high all day. I also captured it with a video of him playing it which can be found on my Instagram page, @theruthlessraver. Anyway, this was in August, and it wasn’t released until September and I had been anticipating its release ever since, and have played it throughout.

Casisdead – Park Assist (Feat. La Roux) – I am biased about this one, but this is my favourite track for September as Casisdead is quite simply my favourite rapper at the moment (and has been for about two years now), and arguably the best in the UK for his lyricism. Park Assist is his first release since Pat Earrings in 2018, and has stuck to his signature style of 80’s style beats meets synthwave.

P-rallel, Sam Wise – Charmer – Now, as well as Casisdead, there’s another rapper who has caught my attention over the past year or so, London MC Sam Wise, who has also now become one of my favourite artists. On this track, he collaborated with UK producer and DJ P-arallel on Charmer, which pays tribute to jungle, which P-arallel grew up on. Charmer is a catchy banger of a tune, and not one to go unheard.

AnD – The Unknown Force – Finally for September, we now have some techno, from Manchester duo AnD. The Unknown Force comes from their Rough and Ready EP from May this year on Soma Records and is the final track on there. It is a perfect track to close off the EP with, and is five minutes of thumping, face screwing techno.

Thank you for reading September’s edition of On Repeat, the Spotify playlist has been updated below. October’s edition is coming soon, bare with me. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1wqC3Ag3ixbgPG3TcHa1JY?si=97925932250e46ce

On Repeat: August

I have had a lot of fun and variation with August’s edition, with Newsam Park and Creamfields festivals booked I had all sorts of dance music on repeat to hype me up for both. Metallica’s Black Album celebrated its 30th anniversary and Turnstile released a new album too, so August was one long month of rocking and raving for me. Here are the top ten tracks of the month:

Metallica – Holier Than Thou – Metallica were a band I grew up listening to, and their self titled album, also known as The Black Album due to its artwork featuring the U.S metal band’s iconic logo and snake icon is one of the best rock albums ever produced, no questions asked. Holier Than Thou is my favourite track from this album and it was great to revisit it when I wrote a piece for Sheffield based magazine Oculate to celebrate The Black Album’s 30th anniversary, and this song still stands out to me most even now; with vocals from frontman James Hetfield and solos from lead guitarist Kirk Hammett. Read the article I wrote for Oculate here: https://oculate.uk/archive/music/metalica-theblackalbum-30th

Eli Escobar – N.Y. So High – I always forget how much I love this track, and played it recurrently throughout August after it was listed on one of my daily mixes and when listening to it, it reminded me of the love I have for it and how I used to listen to this ALL the time when I was first getting into dance music properly and exploring new artists and deepening my understanding of producers in the game and other, less mainstream music. USA based Eli Escobar is very quiet these days, but that does not lessen how much of a banger this will always be, featuring a sample of Sylvester’s I Need Somebody To Love Tonight.

Rossi. – In Village – In Village is a track produced by London based Rossi on his Checkpoint EP on Locus records (LCS006), which I had recently discovered after a friend showed it to me, I was shocked I had not heard this before. He is an exceptional minimal house producer with the ability to sell out clubs and dancefloors across the UK and beyond with smooth, two stepping groovers exactly like this one. Rossi is becoming one of my favourite producers and DJ’s with his growing catalogue of minimal beats sending him upwards to well deserved recognition and minimal, yet maximum musical royalty.

Adam Beyer – What You Need – Adam Beyer has earnt his household name status within techno and the dance music scene, and What You Need is one of his many tracks that prove why. This 2015 release from his Stone Flower EP (DC141) on Beyer’s own label, Drumcode, is a hypnotic, melodic techno anthem that is a guaranteed crowd pleaser and Awakenings festival favourite with a powerful female vocal sample that takes you into the darker side of his releases. Less commercial, this is arguably the best track he has produced so far.

Gregor Tresher – Trident – A track I discovered at Newsam Park Festival (formerly Cocoon in the Park) this year by a producer I had never heard of before, German producer and DJ Gregor Tresher’s track Trident was played during Sven Vath’s closing set there this year. Trident was released in 2020 on Tresher’s three track single of the same name on Sven Vath’s label Cocoon Recordings, and is a melodic techno track that’s vibes are so feel good it almost feels celebratory. Think euphoria and dancing with your eyes closed.

Claude VonStroke – Flubblebuddy – Sven Vath is notorious for leading his listeners and ravers alike down rabbit holes with his twisted yet weird and wonderful track selection, and this one he also played at Newsam Park most certainly spun a few heads in the crowd. Claude VonStroke AKA Barclay McBride Crenshaw is an American producer based in Los Angeles and he owns Dirtybird Records, who have had releases from Rebuke, Eddy M, Catz ‘n Dogz, Will Clarke and so many more. Flubblebuddy is from VonStroke’s 2020 album Freaks & Beaks, also released on Dirtybird (well known for its bizzare album artworks). This track is most memorable for its creepy sounding yet alluring sample of “What do we say when we see our friends? Hello buddy”.

The Chemical Brothers – Hey Boy Hey Girl – I try not to include mega popular songs in my On Repeat series as I love including uncommon tracks I’ve found to share with other people, but I had to include this one. Before Creamfields, I had been waiting to see The Chemical Brothers (AKA Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons, not actually brothers) since I was around ten years old. I’ve been listening to them for over a decade and they are one of my favourite DJ acts of all time and I never get bored of hearing this dance classic from the British duo’s 1999 Surrender album. I thought they would close their Creamfields set with Hey Boy, Hey Girl and feared I would miss it as I left half an hour early to catch the rest of Dax J’s set over on the Nina Kraviz and Friends Stage. I ended up seeing the pair alone; at first I was a little anxious. However, to a hell of a lot of surprise, they actually opened with Hey Boy, Hey Girl, and as the track started as they walked on stage, I felt right at home and perfectly comfortable surrounded by fellow ravers and fans who also went to see them perform their iconic tracks. Hey Boy, Hey Girl, is a powerful dance track that defined a generation from 1999 and onwards and is still as amazing after all these years.

Chase and Status – Fool Yourself (Feat. Plan B and Rage) – If there’s one thing I learned at Creamfields, it’s how much I love drum and bass. Their set that weekend was the third time I’ve seen them, and Fool Yourself always goes off live, as soon as you hear the intro in one of their sets you know it’s about to go down. It wasn’t the best time I have seen Chase and Status but it certainly didn’t disappoint, there was unreal energy in the tent that night. This track features lyrics and vocals from British singer and rapper and close friend of the duo, Plan B and MC Rage, the latter of whom spent 14 years touring with the London based DJs, who sadly left in July to pursue a solo career. Fool Yourself is one of the best on the album as I love Plan B as an artist and all three collaborations so far with Chase and Status are brilliant tracks, his voice and lyrics combined with the madness from the production on the track created a drum and bass rave classic. I have always loved Chase and Status and No More Idols (the album this track is from) will always have a space in my heart as one of my favourite dance music albums of all time and an album that introduced me to drum and bass many years ago and one that welcomed me into the heart of dance music forever.

Turnstile – UNDERWATER BOI – Baltimore punk rockers Turnstile released their new album, GLOW ON in August and Underwater Boi is definitely my favourite track on this album; it’s a really catchy song with a great melody and a sick chord progression throughout. The new album overall is a different sounding Turnstile, not as heavy as they would normally go and it’s softer to listen to but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. They seem to be delving into different genres progressively, shoegaze in particular. There are also a couple of collaborative tracks on GLOW ON with alternative R&B artist Blood Orange AKA Devonté Hynes who I also really like. I really liked all the singles released before the album so I kind of knew I was going to love it, plus Turnstile are one of my favourite bands. Really looking forward to seeing them live for the first time at Outbreak Festival in Manchester next year!

Men I Trust – Lauren (Oden & Fatzo Edit) – If there’s been one track of the summer we’ve all loved, it’s this. French DJ trio Oden & Fatzo (whom I featured in On Repeat before for their track Ob1 Kenobi) took to the studio to remix Canadian indie band Men I Trust’s Lauren and created THE track of Summer 2021. It’s simple on production, yet blissful and beautiful and really compliments lead singer Emma Proulx’s vocals. The replay value on this track is like no other, I have had this track on repeat all Summer and have never once skipped it, it will always remind me of that Summer in 2021 when restrictions lifted, events were put back on, and festivals given the green light. Hats off to Oden & Fatzo here as they have excelled with this edit and they are proving to be currently some of the best artists in the scene. Unfortunately I cannot add this track to the On Repeat Spotify playlist as it isn’t on there yet, but it can be heard via Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/novajrec/men-i-trust-lauren-oden-fatzo-remix

Thank you for reading August’s edition of On Repeat, September will be coming soon. Spotify playlist updated here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1wqC3Ag3ixbgPG3TcHa1JY?si=d12987eac3ce4eef

On Repeat: July

When Boris Johnson revealed nightclubs will be allowed to open at full capacity on the 19th of July onwards, the whole of the UK was filled with relief and joy. With raves and events back on and festivals given the green light, my playlists were given a shuffle around and I’ve had a few tracks on repeat to prepare me for my triumphant return to the rave and fuel my excitement.

Dissolver – Apuré Tuxima – July’s first track is Netherlands based techno DJ and producer Dissolver’s Apuré Tuxima from his 2020 EP Don’t Disturb Furby. This is the second track on the EP, and there’s no messing around from Dissolver on this track, as it goes straight into thumping 90’s style hard techno, packed full of energy and a vocal sample of the title name. This is a track for a dark, packed sweaty basement.

Ignition Technician – Throw Your Hands – Second on the list is one of exciting electro, from Leeds based duo Ignition Technician’s 2003 EP, Back In The Day. This is a track certified to get a crowd going crazy, with it’s synths and other elements that are incredibly similar to those of Die Antwood; I can definitely see where they take their inspiration from, and I am a massive fan of theirs too, so this was one reason this track appealed to me as much as it did and can’t wait to practice mixing with this one!

Biig Piig – Feels Right – It’s not very often I include indie tracks within my On Repeat series, but those that are featured are always belters. I had only previously heard of Irish born, London based Jessica Smyth from her work with Mac Wetha on his Mac Wetha & Friends mixtape until I heard this song of hers on a Spotify daily mix. Feels Right was written with the vibe of a night out in mind, with the feeling of letting go and dancing with sweaty strangers accompanied by tunes and ecstasy, and the slick bass and accompanied drums on this track gel together just right to make a funky indie disco tune. I will definitely be listening to more of her.

Nero – Two Minds – This choice could be considered a blast from the past, but also a hidden gem. The former being Nero, having not released anything since 2018, they seem to have vanished from the scene or they are at least hibernating. The latter, as this track in particular from their 2015 second studio album, Between II Worlds is an underrated song, both of theirs and in general. Two Minds has a great melody and vocals from member Alana Watson, and is straying away from their signature dubstep sound whilst providing a deep, heavy bassline to screw your face up to.

Shy FX, Breakage Feat. Tyler Daley – I Got You – Its only fair of me to include some drum and bass now, this time I have firstly chosen I Got You from Shy FX and Breakage’s EP Darker Than Blue from April this year. Drum and bass messiah Shy FX teamed up with fellow producer and DJ Breakage for this track which features vocals from Tyler Daley; overall, its one of my favourite tracks of 2021 so far as the combination of vocals and instrumentals mould together perfectly to create an ultimate summer bass song.

JT Donaldson Feat. Liv.e – Stay Inside – This is one of my favourite tracks on my summer playlist this year, but one thing I certainly will not be doing this season, is staying inside, especially if it means I can hear more tunes like this outdoors. A blissful track, touching on UK garage with delicate instrumentals and soulful vocals from Texas singer Liv.e.

Marcus Intalex – Jupiter – Another drum and bass track I’ve absolutey adored this month, is Jupiter from the late Marcus Intalex’s (Aka Trevino) 2016 EP Fourfit EP 08. Jupiter is nearing the more darker, underground side of drum and bass music which I am incredibly fond of. It is a beautifully haunting, yet mesmerising track with intensity and yet with an eeriness that adds to the overall outstanding production on the track; think late, dark city nights.

IDLES, Slowthai – Model Village – Model Village is the latest single from British indie punk-rockers IDLES, which features Northampton rapper Slowthai. Together they have created the perfect combination of rap and indie rock and created another indie anthem to fill indie music nightclubs (ahem, Leadmill) for years to come.

JKS – Burnside – French techno maestro JKS’ 2017 single Burnside is another favourite from this month, as it is acidic, wild and radiates serious heat on a dancefloor, as do the rest of his tracks. Be sure to check out his Boiler Room Hard Dance mix on Soundcloud, one of my favourite ever mixes where he showcases the ferocity of is talent on the 1’s and 2’s.

DJ Le Roi, Roland Clark – I Get Deep (Late Nite Tuff Guy Remix) – Late Nite Tuff Guy’s remix of I Get Deep is one of the deep house tracks that will remain sentimental to me for a long time, as its one of the first I discovered all those years ago when I first fell in love with house music. Lately I have been getting nostalgic with deep house and this one in particular is one that has stood out to me this month.

Thank you for reading July’s edition, August will be coming within the next few few weeks when I have recovered from this upcoming Creamfields. Stay groovy!

Ruthless x